Five Star Felines

Much has been made recently of Matilda, beloved resident feline at New York's Algonquin Hotel, which is about to emerge from a six-month, multimillion-dollar renovation. Once given run of the hotel's first floor, Matilda became the subject of a health department crackdown in November and now finds her domain curtailed to a smaller, invisible fence–enforced perimeter. Her fans were, shall we say, nonpussed. The public outcry over the board of health's ruling was from all over — Australia, Japan, Russia— says Alice de Almeida, the Algonquin's so-called Chief Cat Officer (she's also an executive assistant there). And Matilda is hardly alone when it comes to hotel cats with devoted followings. Here, a few more tales from the kits.

Matilda III: Algonquin Hotel, New York

Matilda III: Algonquin Hotel, New York

Breed: Ragdoll

Age: 4

Tenure: 2 years

Purrview: Though it once extended throughout the lobby of the Algonquin, Matilda's empire now includes only a small strip stretching from the elevators past the reception desk to the front door. She also has an office on the second floor.

Pedigree: Adopted in 2010, Matilda is 10th in a long line of Algonquin cats. The tradition began in the 1930s, when a nameless stray wandered in and was, according to hotel lore, christened Hamlet by actor John Barrymore.

Trivia: Matilda III is a social media wiz, with an e-mail address, Facebook page, and Twitter handle (@algonqueen).

Pet Peeve: Dogs don't faze Matilda, but like any celeb worth her salt, she has an aversion to camera flashes. She eschews all beef, preferring Fancy Feast grilled or marinated seafood.

Fa-Raon: Le Bristol, Paris

Fa-Raon: Le Bristol, Paris

Breed: Sacré cat from Burma

Age: 2

Tenure: 2 years

Purrview: Fine weather finds Fa-Raon in the garden of Paris's Le Bristol, while inclement conditions see him lobbyside, welcoming guests at the concierge desk. Upon special request, he can make personal appearances in younger guests' rooms.

Pedigree: Le Bristol's first resident cat (the name means pharaoh en français), Fa-Raon came from a breeder. General manager Didier Le Calvez, who oversaw the hotel's recent $33 million renovation, thought the cat would signal family-friendliness.

Trivia: Fa-Raon once spent the night in the room of a famous Russian lingerie model. (He won't name names.)